Sewing machine



Sept. s, 1925. 1,552,961-

A. R. SCHOENKY .snwiue MACHINE Filed March 31, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

. CHM R\ Sdwh ly, 1

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1925.

. A. R. SCHOENKY SEWING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1920 4 Shets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

BY W K a 4 A TTORNEYS.

A. R. SCH OENKY SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1920 Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST R. SGHOENKY, OF SOMEBVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO REECE SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed March 31, 1920. Serial No. 370,101.

To all whom it may canoe 1%.

Be it known that 1, Answer R. Sor1o- ENKY, a citizenof the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of hilassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing This invention relates to sewing machines; and more especially to sewing machines wherein a barbed needle is arranged to nor mally advance through the work to receive a thread loop and to retract to draw such,

loop through the work, and a looper is arranged to form a thread loop on the barb of the advanced needle, and a take-up for drawing tight the successive stitches, there being a stitching shaft and timed connec tions from the shaft for actuating the needle, the looper and the take-up in harmony through cycle after cycle during the normal stitching operations.

An example of such machines is one wherein the barbed needle is curved and cooperateswith the other sewing instruments to form chain stitches, for example in the well known welt and turn shoe sewing ma chine,

The objects of this invention are generally to improve the operation and convenience of, sewing machines of thekind above referred to, and more especially to provide an improved means simpler and better than heretofore attempted contrivances whereby. when the machine is stopped, the shoe or other work may be readily extracted without hindrance from the needle or thread.

To make the present invention clear 1 will first explain the cycle of stitching movements. Each stitch may be said to be completed when it has been drawn tight by the take-up. At this moment the needle is extending through the work to or nearly to its advanced position; the looper now moves so as to place a loop on the needle barb. This is followed by the retraction of the needle, which draws the loop through the work, while at the same time the take-up gives thread. After the complete needle retraction it next advances through the loop just formed, penetrating the work at a new point, and as the needle advance continues the takeup operates to draw tight the thread and loop, which usually is accomplished by the time the needle again reaches its advanced position. This completes the cycle.

Whenever the machine is stopped, unless th1s cycle of movements is completed, the final stitch remains incomplete and loose. If the shaft be stopped when the needle is advanced, it is impossible to remove the work because engaged by the needle. If the shaft is advanced somewhat further so as to retract the needle through the work, this draws another or extra thread loop through the work which again cannot be extracted from the machine because held by such extra loop and needle barb. C

In the machine herein illustrated there is a shiftable control lever; or treadle which may be. moved at the will of the workman to one position for engaging the power, and to another position for disengaging the power, which drives the machine. The principle of the presentinvention is to provide connections such that the throwing of the control lever to apply power adjusts the parts of the stitching mechanism, so that the stitching instruments will go through their motions cycle after cycle in the normal manner above described; whereas the shifting of the lever to disengage power readjusts the connections to the stitching instruments in such way that the barb of the needle will not receive a thread loop. The result of this arrangement is that, while the operating shaft is being turned by power, the regular stitching cycle is in effect, and the needle receives a loopand draws it through the work in the formation of each stitch; whereas when the power is disengaged' and the machine is advanced by hand or by the action of inertia in the rotating parts, the needle will not receive and draw throughthe work a loo of thread; so that in the final or stoppe position with the needle withdrawn from the work, the thread will not be engaged on the needle and the work may be readily removed from the machine. Broadly, this plan may be carried out by any abnormal adjustment which will prevent the placing of a thread loop on the needle barb; for-example, in some way the looper may be rendered inoperative, or the thread hook which co-operates with the looper in placing the thread on the needle may be abnormally actuated; but specifically I prefer, and have herein shown, the plan of rendering abnormal or inoperative the needle stroke or timing by the act of shifting the control lever or pedal, whereby notwithstanding the forward rotation of the stitching shaft the needle will not come to its loop receiving position. The inven tion is shown embodied herein by a connection from the control lever to the needle actuating connection, the same capable of readjusting the latter so that the extent of advance of the needle will be reduced sulli ciently to preclude its reaching the usual advanced point where in the regular cycle it receives a thread loop from the needle.

By this arrangement the workman is en abled to turn forwardly the shaft of the stopped machine by hand to any extent desired, putting the parts thrpugh their usual motions with the exception of the needle, which will not receive a thread loop; and one of the advantages of this arrangement, as above stated, is that, when the power is thrown off, the workman, without need of any skillful rotation on manipulation is en abled' by the hand wheel to bring the shaft to a stop in a final position with the needle retracted from the work, the needle having at this time no thread on its barb, and the shoe therefore being readily removable from the machine.

By way of illustration of the invention, show a single mechanical form or embodiment, although the invention might be embodied in numberless forms.

Fig. 1. is a left elevation of a complete machine of the type known as a welt-and-turn shoe sewing machine, embodying the present invention, the parts being supposed to be shown in their position at the end of a.

stitch cycle, when running in a normal manner. a

Fig. 2 is a left elevation of the'driving parts at the base of the machine, the frame partly broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4 is a partial left elevation of the head of the machine taken partly in fore and aft section on a plane somewhat to the left of the needle actuating connections.

Fig. 5 is a similar, left elevation and section, with the framework and various other parts omitted, so as to more clearly and fully show the particulars of the mechanism embodying the present invention; The parts in this view are as in Fig. 4 in their position at the end of the stitch cycle, with the needle advanced; and in dotted lines are shown the positions when the-needle is completely retracted, as it will preferably be after the completion of stitching, when the shoe is to be removed. r

Fig. 6 is a. view similar to Fig. 5, showing the parts at the end of a stitch cycle, but after the present invention has come into play, the needle stroke being shortened to prevent the formation of a thread loop on the barb thereof. In dotted lines this figure also duplicates the Fig. 5 positions for the purpose of comparison.

Fig. 7 is a detached plan view of certain parts, seen also in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a section of the same parts taken on the plane 8-8 of Fig. 5.

This invention is distinguished from my prior Patent Number 1,420,580 granted June 20, 1922, in which a stop motion is disclosed acting to stop the machine with the needle removed from the work, the stop motion acting during the last stitch to prevent the reception of a thread loop by the barbed needle. In the present case the pedal or lever which thrusts on and off the power clutch is connected for making the change of adjustment to prevent the application of a loop to the needle, and with such arrangement a stop motion is not necessary. The illustrated stitching machine is without great inertia, and the throwing off of power may be followed by stoppage by hand or due to the drag of the. machine, and if it stop with the needle in the work, it is only necessary for the workman to advance thehand wheel and shaft to extract the needle, which, by reason of this invention, is thereupon found to be free from the thread. The immediate connections, however, by which the relation of the needle to its actuating elements and its adjustment to avoid taking a loop, are herein shown the same as in my said prior application, and so far as such details are concerned, the present application is a continuation of the former one.

The shoe X is shown in its proper or inverted position, in which itis supposed to be guided by hand as the stitching progresses. The upper of the shoe, the welt or strip m and the lip m of the insole 00 may be mutually united by the stitching in this type of machine.

Coming to the mechanical parts of the machine, Fig. 1 shows a base 11 from which extends upwardly a post 12, carrying, the head or stitching mechanism 13 at the top. The actuating or stitching shaft 26 may be power driven as follows. A power belt 14 engages on pulley 15 fixed on a power shaft 16. By means of a key 17 a. clutch disk 18 is slidably mounted torotate with the shaft, and is adaptedto co-o-perate with a second clutch disk 19, loose on the shaft. A bevel gear 20, connected with the clutch disk 19, is engaged with a. complementary bevel gear 21, mounted on a short transverse shaft 22, having at its left extremity agrooved pulley 23. From the pulley 23 extends upwardly a belt 24, engaging at the top of the machine a suitable groove on a. pulley or hand wheel 25, mounted on the operating or stitching shaft 26. I

By these connections the stitching shaft is able to be drivenby power. In order to give ready control of the application and disengagement of power, I have shown a pedal 27 at the base of the machine, the same connected by a link 28 with a downwardly slidable wedge member or block 29, that cooperates with a complementary wedge member 30-loosely surrounding the shaft 16 and held against rotation. When the pedal is de pressed, the wedges force the clutch disk 18 against the clutch disk 19, sothat the rotation of the former is delivered through the latter, and the subsequent connections to the stitching shaft. A spring 31 is shown, tending to normally lift the pedal, and thus release the clutch disk pressure, and springs 32 may be employed to normally pull forward the sliding clutch disk 18, away from the other disk.

The particular nature of the connections by which the stitching shaft 26 drives the needle 33, the looper 34 and the other stitching instruments is not important, but for convenience I have shown connections consisting mainly of cranks, links and levers, substantially as illustrated in my Patent No. 1,288,366, issued December 17., 1918, or my copending application hereinabove mentioned, which may be referred to for illustration and description of many details and other matters unnecessary to particularize for purposes of the present invention. I have herein shown the usual work support 35, and have indicated others of the stitching instruments such as channel guide, thread hook, take-up and feed device, as well as the welt guiding and feeding memher, all of which may be substantially as shown in said patent and application. As the stitching shaft normally advances during the stitching, it actuates or controls the various instruments in harmony, and in a manner generally well known or made clear in said patent and application. For ex ample, the looper 34, whichis of hollow con struction for the passage of the thread, is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis for somewhat over one rotation and then returns, so that the nose or extremity of the looper in its normal movement forms a. loop around the barb of the advanced needle 33- The needle is shown rigidly secured upon a carrier or block 36, fitted to oscillate about a pivot 37, so that in the advance stroke the curved needle swings about such pivot as an axis through the welt, the upper and the insole loop toits loop receiving position adjacent to the looper 34.

The connections from the stitching shaft to the needle block may comprise the following. Formed upon the shaft 26 is a crank 38. A pitman or link 39 extends from this crank to the extremity of a swinging arm 40, fulcrumed at 41. From the pivot or stud 42, which connects the link. and arm, extends a link 43. At the lower extremity of this link is a stud 44, which connects the link to the main needle lever; in fact, to both parts or members 45 and 460i the needle lever, which as a whole is tulcrummed and swings about a rear stud or axle 47. The lever 45, 46 is normally rigid throughout its length during stitching, and its forward or'free end is connected by a curved link 48 with the needle block 36. The oscillating movement of the needle isindicated by the advanced and retracted positions indicated in full and dotted lines respectively in Fig. 5. Normally, as the crank travels around and around, the link .39 causes the arm 40 to swing up and down, and this action through the link 43 swings the needle lever, which communicates its motion by the curved link 48 to the needle blockand needle in harmony with the: movements of the looper, take-up and other instruments.

In order to prevent the needle from taking a thread loop from the looper, except when the pedal is depressed and the machine being driven by power, I introduce into or associate with the connections of the looper, or those of the needle or those of the thread hook or other instrument taking part in the placing of the loop upon the needle in each cycle, a suitable contrivance controlled by the depression and elevation of the pedal. Specifically this is shown as applied in the train of needle actuating connections and serves toreadjust the needle motion, so that, whereas in the normal cycle the needle will advance to a pointwhere the looper may deliver a loop to the needle hook, the needle will, when the pedal is lifted and the power' drive has ceased, receive at most anabnofmal or shortened stroke such as to prevent its receiving the thread loop.

While the device for thus changing the needle action might be applied at any point in the train of connections from the shaft 26 to the needle block, I have herein shown the needle lever 45, 46 as the one to receive the abnormal adjustment for such purpose. This lever is constructed of two portions 45 and 46, so that, whereas it is a practically unitary and rigid lever during normal operation, it may at the proper time be givena relative movement or adjustment so as to alter the throw or action of the needle, as stated. g a

The stud 44, which connects the twolever parts 45 and 46, permits the outer lever, part 46 to move relatively, thus producing an adjusting effect which is transmitted through the subsequent connections 48 and 36 to the needle. During normal stitching operations any relative adjustment of the lever part 46 is prevented by reason of its being formed with a rigid extension 49, the rear or upper end of which is located adjacent to the fulcrum shaft 47, the extension49 having a slotted head 50 actually engaging the fulcrum shaft. Obviously, so longas the extension 49 is held in rigid relation to the fulcrum 47 or to the arm 45, there will be no relative movement, but, if the extension 49 be relatively swung about the pivot 44, as shown by Fig. 6 compared with Fig. 5, this will swing the lever part 46 and change the throw or advanced position of the needle. Fig. 6 shows in dotted lines the normal or full advanced position of the needle, and the full lines show the relative readjustment indicating that the needle is unable to advance to the point where the looper normally applies a loop thereto.

In'order to effect the described readjustment by the act of throwing off and on the power, I have shown a downward link 51 from the extension 49, and from the lower end, of the link 51 a link or arm 52 swinging on a fixed stud 53. A sort of toggle is thus provided, and this may be actuated by a short link 54 pivoted to the links 51 and 52. The forward end of the link 54 is pivoted to the lower end of an arm 55 mounted on a rock shaft 56, which at another point in its length is provided with an arm 57, connected by long downward connecting rod 58, shown as adjustable, with a slide member 59 connected in turn by a link 60 with the pedal or control lever 27.

The depression and holding down of the edal throws the toggle links 51, 52 to the ig. 5 position and holds them there, thus holding the head 50 of the lever part 46 in its upper position, so that as the shaft is turned by power, the needle goes through its normal or stitching movements. .Tlie letting up of the pedal, however, and the throwing off of power causes the riseof the connecting'rod 58 and the adjustment of thelinks 51 and 52 to the position shown in Fig. 6, which, as before explained, causes a readjustment of the needle actuating connections such that under these conditions the needle cannot advance to its loop receiving position, but only to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, with the consequence that, when the power is thrown off and the machine comes to rest by friction or by hand or otherwise, there will be no looper thread on the needle, and its final retraction to the dotted line position, Fig. 5, will effect the complete release of the work from both thread and needle.

The mechanical structure and arrangement of the members 50 and 51 are shown in plan view in Fig. 7, and the details are shown in Fig. 8 The upper end of the link 51 is engaged by a tongue and groove device 59 with the head 50 of the lever extension 49, so that the link may maintain its engagement with the head for raising and lowering it as explained, without interference from the swinging of the head.

In one aspect it will be seen that this invention comprises a means operative during the stitch cycle by the same pedal which throws on and off the power to change the relation betweenthe instruments that produce the thread'loop for retraction by the needle in the formation of each stitch, whether or not for the purpose of missing a thread loop at the time of stoppage to leave the work free for removal. The pedal may be considered a controller for not merely throwing on and off the power, but also for throwing the readjusting contrivance into and out of action. The readjustment of the connections, in the illustrated ease the needle connections, takes place instantaneously upon the lift of the pedal to throw off power, and is not dependent on the action of any stop motion, which indeed may be wholly dispensed with by the present invention.

' It will thus be seen that I have described a sewing machine embodying the principles and attaining the objects and advantages of the present invention, and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Since many matters of combination, design, detail and other features maybe indefinitely varied without departing from the underlying features, I do not intend to limit the invention to such features except as specified in the appended claims.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A power-operated chain-stitch sewing machine having a barbed needle, and a looper for placing a thread loop thereon, an operating shaft and connections therefrom for normally cooperatively actuating the needle and looper, said actuating connec tions comprising a member adapted to be displaced to abnormal position to change the actuation and thereby prevent the taking of a loop in the needle barb, and a pedal having connections directly to said displaceable member to adjust it to abnormal position by the throw of the pedal per se, whereby looptaking is prevented.

2. A power-operated chain-stitch sewing machine having a barbed needle, and a looper for placing a thread loop thereon, an operating shaft and connections therefrom for normally cooperatively actuating the needle and 'looper, said actuating connections comprising a'member adapted to be displaced to abnorma-l'position to change the actuation and thereby prevent the taking of a loop in the needle barb, a power clutch, and a pedal having connections directly to said displaceable member to adjust it 'to abnor mal position by the throw of the pedal per se, whereby loop-taking is prevented, said pedal having other connections to said clutch'to open it.

3. A power-operated Welt and turn sewing machine having a barbed needle, and a loop er for placing a thread loop thereon, an operating shaft formed with a crank, and connections therefrom consisting of links and levers for normally cooperatively actuating the needle and looper, said connections adapted to abnormal adjustment to prevent the taking of a loop in the needle 10 barb, a power clutch, and a pedal arranged to adjust said connections to abnormal by the release of the pedal per se, thereby preventing loop-taking, and to open said clutch, thereby leaving the shaft running free; whereby, on stopping the machine with the needle retracted, the shoe and thread Will both be free of the needle.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature hereto.

AUGUST R. SOHOENKY. 

